Husband and wife on opposing sides for World Cup final

Argentina fan Donovan Whyte, 50, seems intent on making the most noise ahead of Sunday's World Cup final between his team and France, while his wife, Marie Marsh, is quietly going about her business.

The pair, who have been married for 25 years, will renew their football rivalry when their respective teams square off for football's most coveted prize. Marsh, 48, said she began supporting France at the 2006 World Cup in Germany when she saw former French captain Zinedine Zidane play.

"A from there mi fall in love with the French team, and no care how Donovan try fi convince me say fi bring him Argentina mi tell miself say mi nah switch," said a confident Marsh.

While it's the norm for women to throw their support behind the team that their spouses cheer for, it is not the same for Marsh, who is the co-owner, along with Whyte, of Salon Emporia, located in Twin Gates Plaza in Half-Way Tree, St Andrew.

"Yea, him cuss mi bout that every day and a say mi only bring France because mi love di players dem and nothing else. Mi nah lie, mi love the black players on France. Dem strong and look good. But for me, I support them mostly because of how they play football. If yuh notice, all of the French players are starters in their club teams, a star di whole a dem," Marsh continued.

She conceded that Lionel Messi is indeed one of the game's greatest players, but stressed that on Sunday his talent will not be enough.

"Every day me and Donovan argue over this. Mi tell him say Messi good yes, but him alone cannot beat my side," the hairstylist said.

"From the very first day we bought our flags, mi tell him say a Argentina and France a go play inna di finals and we a go win. Since then, a baay cussing over that," Marsh joked.

Whyte, a professional barber, stated that his beloved Argentina, whom he has been supporting since 1986, are better suited to avenge their 4-3 defeat to France at the quarter-final stage in Russia 2018.

"Weh dem call him again, Mbappe? If him think him a go run like a fast car this time round him mek a sad mistake. Inna 2018, Argentina backline did slow and never agile enough fi deal wid him, but this time round a different thing," said Whyte.

He said that the rivalry between him and his wife was serious, despite the friendly bantering that was on display inside their shop on Thursday.

"She (Marsh) cyah chat to mi bout certain things right now. All relationship matter deh pon pause because is a serious rivalry this a gwan. See from Saudi Arabia beat mi inna di fuss game, and she and har friend dem no stop mouth mi, mi cut off all love," said Whyte jokingly.

Both partners have predicted a 3-0 final score for their respective teams.